KTM 1290 Super Duke R unveiled

Muscle bike enthusiasts have long awaited the 1290 Super Duke R, KTM’s new flagship, a naked sportsbike styled with aggressive, signature KTM lines. The Super Duke shows off an orange frame, razor sharp body panels leading from its headlight all the way to the tail, with racy graphics.

KTM has given the 1290 Super Duke R an extensively reworked 1301cc, four-stroke, V-twin and liquid cooled RC8 superbike derived engine that generates 180bhp of peak power at 8870rpm and 14.68kgm torque. Controlled via a ride-by-wire throttle, the 1290 Super Duke R also comes with riding modes, traction control and ABS brakes. The 1290 comes with a 6-speed gearbox, allied to a slipper clutch that allows cleaner aggressive downshifting.

The 1290 uses a KTM tubular trellis frame, with 48mm USD telescopic forks in front by WP, and a monoshock at rear, bolted onto a single-side swingarm. The new KTM comes with a top-of-the-line Brembo made radial mounted monobloc calliper, twin 320mm disc brake in the front and single rear disc brake.

The 1290 first goes on sale in Europe. Like the KTM RC8 superbike, the 1290 Super Duke R shall go on display in Probiking showrooms in future, although an India rollout is still to be confirmed.